Deckers Outdoor Corporation’s lawsuit against Quince has emerged as one of the more closely watched “dupe” disputes in fashion, pitting the owner of the UGG brand against the direct-to-consumer startup over lookalike shearling footwear. Initially centered on trade dress, patent infringement, and unfair competition claims, the case has been narrowed significantly, with Deckers’ trade dress claims no longer in play and the litigation now focused primarily on a single design patent tied to UGG’s Classic Ultra Mini boot.
Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in 2023, the case stands to test the limits of design patent protection in the increasingly crowded “dupe” market – particularly where product designs are shaped by longstanding industry conventions and functional considerations. Along the way, the court has issued notable rulings on genericness, functionality, and the viability of trade dress rights in widely used footwear silhouettes.
Given the significance of the dispute for brands navigating copycat products and affordable luxury alternatives, we have compiled a timeline of notable filings and rulings to track the progression of the case …
May 27, 2026
The parties appeared before Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín for a pretrial conference ahead of the scheduled June trial. Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín denied Deckers’ effort to prevent Quince from referencing “dupes” and “dupe culture” at trial, clearing the way for jurors to hear evidence about the broader market for lookalike fashion goods. The ruling came after the court noted that Deckers itself had proposed asking prospective jurors about their views on companies that design, market, or sell “dupe” products.
May 12, 2026
Judge Martínez-Olguín issued an order resolving a number of the parties’ motions in limine and other pretrial evidentiary disputes ahead of trial.
May 4-6, 2026
The parties filed trial briefs laying out their competing positions on patent validity, infringement, and damages. Quince argued that the asserted design patent is invalid, that its boots do not infringe under the ordinary observer test, and that Deckers cannot establish recoverable profits.
Apr. 24, 2026
The court granted in part Deckers’ motion for voluntary partial dismissal. The ruling formally eliminating the remaining trade dress-related claims, leaving the case centered on the alleged infringement of U.S. Design Patent No. D927,161.
Apr. 15, 2026
The parties filed competing motions in limine ahead of trial. Among other things, Deckers sought to bar Quince from referencing “dupes” and “dupe culture” before the jury, while the parties also disputed the admissibility of evidence relating to prior art, patent validity, and other issues expected to arise at trial.
Jan. 9, 2026
Judge Martínez-Olguín issued a pretrial order governing the final phase of the litigation after resetting the case for a June 2026 jury trial.
2025
Dec. 31, 2025
The court scheduled a four-day jury trial to begin in June 2026 and directed the parties to submit proposed pretrial deadlines.
Nov. 12, 2025
The parties participated in a settlement conference before Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixson. The case did not settle.
Oct. 2, 2025
In a win for Quince, Judge Martínez-Olguín held that Deckers’ asserted Classic Ultra Mini and Tasman trade dresses are generic and therefore ineligible for trade dress protection. The court concluded that the designs are too common within the footwear industry to identify a single source.
At the same time, the court declined to invalidate Deckers’ asserted design patent, allowing the patent infringement claim to proceed.
Mar. 10, 2025
Quince moved for partial summary judgment, arguing that Deckers’ asserted trade dresses are generic and functional, that the design patent is invalid, and that Deckers cannot recover lost profits.
2023
June 12, 2023
Deckers filed suit against Last Brand, Inc., alleging that Quince’s Australian Shearling Mini Boots infringe the trade dress and design patent associated with the UGG Classic Ultra Mini boot. The complaint asserted claims for trade dress infringement, patent infringement, unfair competition, and related state-law causes of action. Deckers alleged that Quince intentionally marketed lookalike footwear in order to capitalize on the reputation and goodwill associated with UGG products.
The case is Deckers Outdoor Corp. v. Last Brand, Inc., 3:23-cv-04850 (N.D. Cal.).
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